Patreon shuts down account claiming to be set up by R Kelly girlfriend

Patreon has shut down a profile claiming to feature posts written by R
Kelly’s girlfriend Joycelyn Savage after the website confirmed it had
failed to verify the account holder’s identity. It has said that anyone
who paid to access posts on the profile will be refunded.

“After multiple unsuccessful attempts to verify the identity of
the account holder, we closed the Patreon page allegedly associated
with Joycelyn Savage due to potential impersonation”, says Patreon. “All
patrons who signed up for the membership page were refunded and the
creator did not receive any funds”.

The profile gained quick attention when it appeared over the weekend
because it seemingly saw Savage accusing Kelly of psychological and
sexual abuse. Savage has previously defended Kelly in interviews.

The validity of the Patreon profile was given a boost when
Kelly’s own attorney, Steve Greenberg, said in a statement that it was
“unfortunate that Jocelyn now seeks to make money by exploiting her long
time, loving relationship with Robert”, adding that “it was not until
the money ran out that she decided anything was wrong”.

In a new statement, an attorney for Savage’s family, Gerald
Griggs, said that some things written in the posts tallied with
information uncovered in their own investigations. To that end he called
on police to investigate whether or not she was actually behind the
Patreon account.

“The recent statement from Patreon underscores the family
concern for the safety of their daughter Joycelyn”, he said. “Numerous
allegations made by the account were alarming and confirmed details from
our independent investigation, [though] we also unsuccessfully reached
out to the account”.

He went on: “With the potential dangers facing Joycelyn and her
safety, we are asking for law enforcement to get involved in
determining where Joycelyn is and whom is really behind the account that
detailed potential crimes”.

Kelly, of course, is currently awaited trial on numerous
charges of sexual abuse against women and girls. He denies all the
allegations made against him, including the new claims that may or may
not have come from Savage.